Curing rack materials

[ToniD]

I just found something out that I need to correct. In a recent post Carebear answered another question and also gave some general instructions about curing--one of which is that soap should not touch a chromed surface.

My shelf is chromed steel. Please advise as to the solution. I would like to modify present shelves, if possible.

What are suitable materials for curing racks?

Thanks

 

[donniej]

I've only ever used plastic or fiberglass. If I were you I'd pick up some plastic aquarium tubing from a pet shop, slit it and use that to cover the chromed metal.

I have been meaning to try curing on chrome just to see if it really does make DOS happen. From a metal catalyst standpoint it sounds totally plausible but I've never tried it...

 

[agriffin]

I just found something out that I need to correct. In a recent post Carebear answered another question and also gave some general instructions about curing--one of which is that soap should not touch a chromed surface.

My shelf is chromed steel. Please advise as to the solution. I would like to modify present shelves, if possible.

What are suitable materials for curing racks?

Thanks

I put freezer paper down to cover my shelving.

 

[ToniD]

The tubing was a good idea, but not quite workable considering the number of bars to cover and the amount of crossbars.

So maybe I should ask another way--Chrome shelves are OK, so long as the soap is not in actual contact with the chrome?

I could sit my bars on two strips of suitable material to keep them raised off the chrome?

 

[ToniD]

OK, I was replying to the tube idea when agriffin wrote. I was also considering paper, but was wondering if that was an airflow problem? Can you use regular paper since it breaths more than freezer paper? Or would that allow the soap to react with the chrome?

 

[ToniD]

And thoughts along these lines lead to another question.

I cure my soap in the basement. I have only been making soap since January so have never done any in the summer.

How much humidity affects soap? We live in a climate with somewhat high humidity in the summer (Pennsylvania). We run a dehumidifier in the basement, and the central air runs most of the time. So the house is not damp, but neither is it the dry air of winter time.

 

[agriffin]

And thoughts along these lines lead to another question.

I cure my soap in the basement. I have only been making soap since January so have never done any in the summer.

How much humidity affects soap? We live in a climate with somewhat high humidity in the summer (Pennsylvania). We run a dehumidifier in the basement, and the central air runs most of the time. So the house is not damp, but neither is it the dry air of winter time.

I rotate my soap once a week on the paper. Humidity is bad for soap. It can cause DOS. Soap needs to be kept in a cool dry place. Most people run a dehumidifier...so you might be okay. Honestly- you'll just have to prepare as best you can and see what happens.

 

[donniej]

If you're below 50% - 55% humidity then you'll be fine. I keep a hygrometer in my soaping area to make sure...

 

[ToniD]

I have been meaning to try curing on chrome just to see if it really does make DOS happen. From a metal catalyst standpoint it sounds totally plausible but I've never tried it...[/quote]


I was just using the chrome because I didn't know I shouldn't---but I don't have any DOS. But that is just 4 months, so does not mean much from a testing standpoint.

I would love to hear an explanation though! Why does chrome cause a problem when stainless steel does not? Stainless steel is made by adding chromium to steel.....

I always love to know the whys of questions!

 

[Deda]

I built a drying rack from Ikea shelves.
26 of these
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50058512
and 3 of these
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00058524

I use these trays to hold the soap
http://www.restaurantequipment.net/new/ ... 216FF.html

Fully stocked it hold 900 bars.

The bakery guy at our local store told me I could have a bun rack the next time they had one they were retiring. That was over a year ago. He finally came through about 2 weeks ago. I think I'm going to turn him down, I like my current setup, and it's easily expandable.

Plus it was cheap.

 

[agriffin]

That is cool, Deda!

 

[jarvan]

I don't know if my wire rack is chrome, but it's a shiny silver. I cure on it all the time and haven't had a single speck of DOS. I have been using this particular rack for over a year. I do move my soaps after 6 weeks to cardboard boxes, though and maybe that helps? Like I said, no DOS. Oh, and I don't line the shelves with anything.

 

[jarvan]

I will reply to my reply. Yes, indeed, the rack I cure on is chrome. Not a single problem with it.

 

[carebear]

my chromed shelves cause DOS. it's evident that it's from the shelves from the pattern of the DOS. good stainless steel doesn't cause a problem, though.

 

[SpottedCat]

I'm not sure where you are, but I picked up some plastic kitchen sink liners from the dollar store that I put on my drying racks and it has worked out great for me.